Forest Diversity and Ecosystem Function

BangorDIVERSE Experiment

BangorDIVERSE is a forest diversity experimental infrastructure with the aim of exploring the relationship between tree diversity and forest ecological functioning and sustainability. The experiment, established in March 2004, is comprised of 92 plots in a fully replicated (n=4) planting design of one, two and three species mixtures of alder (Alnus glutinosa L.), birch (Betula pendula Roth.), beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.), sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus L.), chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.), and oak (Quercus robur L.) at a density of 10,000 stems ha-1. Species were selected due to their contrasting shade tolerance, successional chronology and to represent a range of taxonomic, physiological and ecological types.